Tips for Navigating the New World of Education

Roofing contractors have it rougher than you think. To become licensed, they have to pass a series of tests. Roofing exam prep courses are a real thing, too. If you are seeking licensure as a roofing contractor, you "just" have to pass the following exams. 

The Roofing Mathematics Exam

Yup, roofing contractors must do math. They have to know how to calculate the square footage of roofing materials they need, find the pitch and slope degrees of an existing roof or determine these measurements for a new roof, and even calculate the pressure-per-square-inch that roofing trusses are able to manage. 

In fact, this is one exam where a lot of roofing contractors seek the most prep time. They know the math, but they are concerned about the types of test questions they will see on the exam. The prep exams help contractors become familiar with how many of the math exam questions will appear.

The Roofing Skills Exam

You cannot be a roofing contractor if you cannot recognize materials, installation procedures, and tools of the trade. A skills exam requires you to follow a predetermined set of tasks to see if you can build a roof on your own. A contractor who relies entirely on his/her crew to build a roof but cannot build one him/herself is not a contractor anyone wants to hire! Typically, you have to go to a pre-ordained skills exam site and then complete the skills exam tasks there.

The Rules and Regulations Exam

Every county and every state has its own set of rules and regulations for construction trades. You are not only expected to know these rules and regulations, but you are also expected to keep up with the changes as they occur. If you fail to keep up with the changes, then every roof you are contracted to build may be denied by the housing and building inspectors. This results in free rebuilds, and you definitely do not want to do that. Take the rules and regulations exam and be sure to include any pertinent new information in your answers to avoid failing the exam.

The Vocabulary and Communications Exam

You will be working with other roofing professionals on a daily basis. This means that you need to clearly identify and communicate with regards to every tool and every material in your trade. The vocabulary part of this exam tests your knowledge of words applicable to your trade, such as "single-ply," or "shaker." The communications part of the exam tests you on how well you communicate to others a series of step-by-step instructions using said vocabulary.